John F. Kennedy, Jr. took off from Fairfield, NJ at 8:38 p.m. Friday, July 16, 1999 with his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette on board, headed to Martha's Vineyard to drop off Lauren before continuing to Hyannis.
At 9:38 p.m., the plane vanished from radar after a sudden rapid descent.
The plane was reported missing by family friend, 2:15 a.m. Saturday.
A multi-agency search and rescue mission began at 3:28 a.m., with the Coast Guard and Air National Guard participating.
Family members gathered at Hyannis Port to pray and await word.
Saturday afternoon, debris from Kennedy's plane was discovered off Martha's Vineyard.
Federal officials shifted the mission to search and recovery and communicated the decision to the Kennedy and Bessette families.
Police and Navy divers joined the search Monday morning.
Sen. Edward Kennedy traveled to Bridgehampton, NY to console Kennedy's sister Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, after which the family released a statement.
The aircraft wreckage and bodies were located on Wednesday.
Sen. Kennedy and his sons Patrick and Edward Jr. witnessed the recovery and accompanied the bodies.
The remains were taken to Bourne Hospital at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, and release to the families at 11:00 p.m.
In a private, closely guarded ceremony aboard a US Navy destroyer, the remains of Kennedy, his wife and sister-in-law were given up to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The family held a memorial service for Kennedy and his wife on Friday morning at St. Thomas More Church in New York.
